Breast protector



Unite States atent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1889Wheeler.......................

[72] Inventor Sharon A. Seidl,

149 Garhe Ave., St. Paul, Minnesota 55119 716,030

[21] Appl. No.

& mm

.S m: .rd Un .l e WCM 9 2 0055 899 lll 722 8 9 10 ,7 69 21 mt d MO d 8 md em a FP n 4 [54] BREAST PROTECTOR 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

brassiere to prevent direct contact between the brassiere and 128/280,128/430, 128/460, 128/477, 128/510 the breast nipples. Each protectorcomprises a foraminous [51] A4lc3/00 [50] FieldofSearch....................r.......................

cup-shaped member adapted to enclose the nipple. Radially 128/463,extending strap means extend from the rim of the member for 430, 464,465, 466, 467, 468, 460, 134, 477, 150, use in pinning the protector tothe brassiere. The protector is 148, 280, 282, 510 preferably made ofsomewhat flexible and resilient plastic.

Patented Oct. 6, 1970 3,532,096

A "23 24 F763 E705 INVENTOR SHAAw/v ,4. 55/01.

ATTORNEY BREAST PROTECTOR This invention relates to an improvement inbreast protector and deals particularly with a protective devicedesigned to protect the nipple of the breast from contact with clothing,while allowing the air to circulate and thereby heal the breast tissue.

It is a known fact that a substantial precentage of mothers who arebreast feeding babies are suffering from irritated breast nipples. Theirritation is increased by the contact of brassieres covering thebreasts which eliminate proper air circulation for healing. It is apurpose of the present invention to provide a protective covering forholding clothing out of contact with the breasts in the area of thenipples. thus greatly reducing the pair and irritation often presentduring the breast feeding period. The brassiere mentioned is preferablyof the type known as a maternity brassiere. Such brassieres usually havea curved strap extending above and below each breast in place ofimperforate breast receiving cups. A flexible covering cup is secured tothe lower strap beneath the nipple area of the breast and maybedetachably secured in raised position covering the breast openingbetween the straps. The covering cup may be folded down to expose thenipple for breast feeding.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a breastprotector which permits air to circulate freely in the nipple area ofthe breasts so as to promote healing of the irritated tissue and preventan increase in irritation due to the lack of air circulation. The breastprotectors are in the form of foraminous cup-shaped frames which aredesigned to overlie the breast nipples and which remain out of contacttherewith. These cup-shaped frames permit the flow of air therethroughwhich promotes healing of the irritated areas.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision ofadevice of the type described in which the breast protectors are providedwith straps which are designed to extend in opposite directionstherefrom for use in attaching the protectors to the body of a maternitybrassiere. The brassiere bodies are designed to encircle the breasts andto be positioned in a predetermined relation thereto. By properlylocating the breast protectors with respect to the brassiere bodies, theprotectors will be in proper position to encircle the breast nippleswithout contacting the same.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specif cation andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part ofthe specification:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a maternity brassiere with thecups thereof folded downwardly, and showing the protectors in placetherein.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of one of the breast protectorsremoved from the brassiere.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the breast protector shownin FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through a portion of the protector, theposition of the section being indicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a somewhat alternate form ofconstruction.

FIG. 6 is a partial front elevational view of another modified form ofcontruction.

FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates the front portion of a maternitybrassiere A including breast encircling portions on opposite sides of acentral connecting portion 5. Each breast encircling portion includes anupper strap portion 6 and a lower strap portion 7, these portionscurving above and below the nipple area of the breast and providing anaperture 8 which is normally covered by the outer cup portion 9 thereofwhich is secured to the lower strap portion 7 and is folded down toexpose the nipple area. Straps 10 are secured to the upper strap portion6 and are designed to extend over the shoulders to the horizontal strapportion of the brassiere which extends about the back of the wearer. Thecup portion 9 is provided with an integral upwardly extending fasteningmeans such as the strap 11, which may be secured to a fastener 12 on thestrap 10 to hold the cup portion 9 in breast overlying position.

The protector B is indicated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, andis preferably formed ofa material which is sufficiently rigid to holdits shape, but yet is suffeciently resilient and flexible to engage thesurface of the skin for substantial periods of time without causingirritation. Material of suitable types not irritating to the skin arepreferably used.

In the particular arrangement illustrated, each breast protector Bincludes a circular ring 13 designed to contact the surface of thebreast in spaced relation to the breast nipple. As an example, but notas a limitation, the ring 13 may be two and three-eights inches indiameter, or may be larger depending upon the size of the breasts.Diametrically opposed sides of the ring 13 are connected bysubstantially semi-circular arcuate ribs I4 which are connected to thering 13 at their outer ends, and are interconnected together at theircentral point of intersection. As will be noted, the ribs 14 leave themajor portion of the area open for the circulation of air. Thus thenipple area of the breast is not irritated by lack of air circulationduring periods between breast feedings.

Extending in diametrically opposite directions from the center of thering 13, I provide a pair of flexible straps 15 which may be employedfor securing the breast protectors B in place of the pockets of thebrassiere A. As indicated in the drawings, each strap 15 is providedwith a series of longitudinally extending slits 16 extending inalignment therethrough, the slits being spaced apart and being designedto accommodate the shanks of pins 17 or other fastening means used toconnect the straps 15 to the brassiere A. Intermediate thelongitudinally extending slots 16, I provide grooves 19 which aresubstantially V-shaped in section. These V-shaped slots or grooves 19are designed to increase the flexibility of the straps and to indicatelocations where the straps may be readily cut off when the straps aretoo long.

Thus it will be seen that the straps 15 may be attached to the brassiereby pins or other fastening means which usually either extend through thespaced slots 16, but which may be snaps or other securing means. In theparticular arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the arcuate ribs 14are substantially semi-circular in cross section as is indicated in FIG.4 of the drawings. However, the ribs may be of circular or similarsection if preferred.

FIG. 5 of the drawings shows an arrangement similar to that shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 with the exception of the fact that only the upper portionof the protectors are air permeable. As indicated in this figure, thelower half of the semi-circle protector C is solid and imperforate asindicated at 20. Radially extending ribs 21 which are similar to theupper portions of the ribs 14 connect the closed lower section 20 of theprotector 20 to the peripheral semi-circular peripheral member 22. Inbrief terms, the protector C is substantially identical to the protectorB with the exception of the fact that the lower half of thesemi-circular enclosure is closed. The straps 23 which are similar inform to the straps 15 previously described form a means of connectingthe protector C to the brassiere.

In F IG. 6 of the drawings, I disclose another modified form ofconstruction which is designed to serve "the same purpose as theprotectors B and C which have been described. The pro tector D comprisesa substantially semispherical shell having its surface perforated asindicated at 24, the body of the shell being indicated by the numeral25. The perforations 24 permit the circulation of air about the nipplesof the breast. Diametrically opposed radially extending straps 26 whichare similar to the straps l5 and 23 are provided for attaching theprotector to the brassiere.

It is recognized that various types of breast cups have been used withinbrassieres. However, the use of a substantially semi-sphericalcup-shaped body which encloses the nipple area of the breasts, and whichallows the free flow of air therethrough, it is believed novel. This isparticularly true in conjunction with the means for attaching theprotectors to the brassiere. It has been found that protectors of thistype prevent direct contact between the breast and the clothing of thewearer and thus tend to inhibit irritation or to.prevent furtherirritation to the nipples during the breast feeding period. Thecirculation of air tends to heal the nipples and to lessen theirritation thereof in accordance with the patent statutes. l havedescribed the principles of construction and operation of my improvementin breast protector, and while I have endeavored to set forth the bestembodiment thereof l desire to have it understood that changes may bemade within the scope of the following claims without departing from thespirit of my invention,

lclaim: l. A breast protector for use in protecting breast nipplescomprising:

foraminous cup-shaped members of sufficient size to enclose the breastnipple without coming in contact therewith and of substantially smallerdiameter than the breast; and outwardly extending strap means secured tothe edge ofsaid member and extending generally radially therefrom andadapted for use in securing the protector to a brassiere ofsubstantially greater cup-shaped size 2. The structure of claim 1 and inwhich said strap means includes a pair ofoppositely extending flexiblestraps 3. The structure of claim 1 and in which said cup shaped memberincludes a circular rim connected by a series of diametrically extendingarcuate intersecting ribs 4. The structure of claim 1 and in which saidstrap means in cludes a strap body having a substantially smooth surfaceon the concave side of said member, and a transversely grooved oppositesurface.

5. The structure of claim I and in which said strap means is providedwith longitudinally spaced perforations.

6. The structure of claim I and in which the lower portion of saidcup-shaped member is substantially imperforate.

7. The structure of claim 1 and in which said cupshaped member isprovided with a considerable number of spaced apertures therethroughi 8.The structure of claim 1 and including in combination a maternitybrassiere having spaced breast exposing openings therein, and in whichone of said cup shaped members is supported in each said breastreceiving opening by said outwardly extending strap means and includingmeans for securing said strap means to said brassiere.

